SELLER OPERATIONAL MANUAL & GUIDELINES
Welcome to our global marketplace! This platform is designed to showcase your unique African craftsmanship, authentic artwork, handmade jewelry, and cultural handicrafts to art lovers worldwide. Because we operate as a direct directory, we charge 0% commission on your sales. Global buyers will connect with you directly.
Follow this step-by-step guide to set up your shop, manage your listings, and maximize your sales.
📥 SECTION 1: REGISTRATION PROCESS
Setting up your digital gallery takes less than 5 minutes:
- Access the Portal: Click on “Sell With Us” in the main navigation menu at the top of the website.
- Select Your Growth Tier: Review the comparison table and click “Select” on the membership plan that fits your business needs.
- Fill Out the Forms: Complete the registration page by entering your required local details:
- Store Name: The public name of your art brand.
- Store Phone: Your active telephone line (We highly recommend using a WhatsApp-enabled number).
- Physical Address: Your workshop, gallery, or home shipping address in Nigeria/Africa.
- Legal Disclaimer: You must check the mandatory checkbox acknowledging that all financial transactions occur entirely off-site at your own risk.
- Account Activation:
- Starter Plans are activated instantly.
- Growth and Pro Plans enter a temporary “Pending” state until our administration team manually approves your membership activation upon receiving your subscription fee.
💳 SECTION 2: STORE MEMBERSHIP TIERS
Your product visibility and catalog capacity depend on your active membership level:
| Plan | Price | Capacity Limit | Activation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Starter | €0 / Free | Up to 5 active products | Instant |
| Growth | €5 / month | Up to 50 active products | After payment verification |
| Pro | €10 / month | Up to 100 active products | After payment verification |
Pro Plan Advantage: Pro Plan products are automatically sorted higher in the organic grid feed above Growth and Starter items.
🛒 SECTION 3: HOW TO ADD A PRODUCT (WCFM Panel)
Once logged in, go to My Store → Products → Add New.
Basic Product Details
- Product Title: Enter a clear, descriptive title.
- Example:
Handcrafted Decorative Wooden Plates – Unique Home Décor
- Example:
- Price (€): Required. Without a price, Google cannot display your product in search results.
- Short Description: Write 1–2 sentences (150–160 characters). This will be used as your Meta Description in Google search results.
- Example:
Unique handcrafted wooden items. African art. Perfect for your wall. Order online; fast delivery.
- Example:
- Description: Describe the material, dimensions, and crafting process in detail.
- Images: Upload a main image and gallery. Always fill in the “Alt Text” for each image.
- Example Alt Text:
Colorful handmade ceramic art plates with floral design
- Example Alt Text:
SEO Optimization (For Google Search)
To help buyers find you, scroll down to the “SEO” tab (with the globe icon) inside the product editor.
- Enter focus keyword(s): Enter keywords separated by commas.
- Example:
handmade wooden plates, african art
- Example:
- Meta Description: Copy your “Short Description” or write a slightly different version. This is what people will see in Google results.
- Click Submit to save the product.
🚀 SECTION 4: BOOST TO “MY ADVERTS” (€2)
If you want to fast-track your sales, you can lock your best masterpieces into the absolute first row of the global homepage grid using our “My Adverts” premium placement tool.
- Select the Artwork: Log into your Vendor Dashboard, navigate to Products, and click Edit on the item you want to promote.
- Submit Request: Inside the editing form, locate the golden box on the right side and click the button labeled: “Advertise this product (€2)”.
- Complete Payment: The system will immediately tag your item for Admin review and forward you to the payment page. Transfer the €2 promotional fee via PayPal or Bank Transfer.
- Live Promotion: Once your €2 payment is verified, the Admin team activates the boost. Your artwork instantly jumps to position #1 on the homepage for a full 30 days.
- Auto-Expiry & Renewal: On Day 27, the system will send an automated reminder to your email address. If you do not renew, the product automatically drops back to its organic position after Day 30.
💬 SECTION 5: BEST PRACTICES FOR BUYER COMMUNICATION
Because our website removes standard checkouts, buyers will submit direct inquiries that route straight to your private email inbox. When a buyer clicks the request button, you will instantly receive their Name, Phone Number, Shipping Address, and Preferred Contact Method (WhatsApp or Email).
Follow these strict safety and customer service tips to close deals successfully:
⚡ 1. Respond within 2 hours
Global art collectors buy on impulse. The faster you check your email inbox and text them on WhatsApp, the more professional you look.
Template:
“Hello [Buyer Name], I am [Your Name] from [Your Store Name] on Craft Market. I received your inquiry for my artwork ‘[Product Name]’. Thank you for your interest!”
📦 2. Provide clear shipping & total costs
Before asking for payment, calculate the exact shipping cost from your location in Africa to the buyer’s international address. Give them a transparent all-inclusive quote:
- Art Price: €150
- International Courier Shipping: €45
- Total Payable: €195
🤝 3. First-Time Buyers – Cash on Delivery (COD) Option
If buyers are purchasing from you for the first time, please allow them to use Cash on Delivery (Payment on Delivery). Include a clear clause that they may inspect the quality of the shipped item before completing payment. This builds trust and encourages first-time international buyers to order with confidence.
🔒 4. Use Secure Payment Methods
Since payments are off-site, protect yourself against chargebacks. We highly recommend using verifiable, direct channels:
- Bank-to-Bank Wire Transfers (Direct deposits).
- PayPal (Sent via “Goods and Services” to provide tracking numbers).
- Crypto / Stablecoins (If preferred by the buyer).
Never ship an item until the money is cleared and visibly sitting inside your account.
🚚 5. Share Tracking Numbers Instantly
Once payment is confirmed, pack your artwork safely (use heavy bubble wrap or secure wooden crates for sculptures). Ship via reputable couriers (DHL, FedEx, or UPS) and instantly send a photo of the tracking receipt to the buyer via WhatsApp. This builds elite trust, leading to repeat orders and 5-star vendor reviews!